Device for automatic collection of coins in coin-operated apparatus

ABSTRACT

Coins inserted into the slots of apparatus having a number of coin-operated units in vertical and horizontal arrangement are dropped through vertical chutes onto a conveyor belt housed in a hollow base structure supporting the apparatus thereon. The conveyor belt may be operated intermittently by a timer mechanism to collect the coins dropped thereon during each predetermined length of time into a receptacle positioned adjacent one of its ends.

baited 8tates Eatent Kawasaki et a1.

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 1, 1971 Japan 46-79242IU] Nov.24, 1971 Japan.... 46-110070[U] Nov. 25, 1971 Japan 46-110382[U] US. Cl194/1 A, 194/1 F, 194/1 K int. Cl. G07f l/04 Field of Search 194/98, 1A, l B, 1 F,

194/1 K, DIG. 9; 133/8, 1

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1903 Goetze 133/8 E Get. 15,1974 869,626 10/1907 Cranner 133/8 E 985,990 3/1911 Farnsworth 194/1 B2,081,338 5/1937 Morrison 194/98 3,072,237 l/l963 Simjian 194/D1G. 93,292,773 12/1966 Keehart 198/191 X 3,431,920 3/1969 Zimmerman... 133/8R 7/1972 Bourke 194/D1G. 9

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. KocovskyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern [5 7 ABSTRACT Coins insertedinto the slots of apparatus having a number of coin-operated units invertical and horizontal arrangement are dropped through vertical chutesonto a conveyor belt housed in a hollow base structure supporting theapparatus thereon. The conveyor belt may be operated intermittently by atimer mechanism to collect the coins dropped thereon during eachpredetermined length of time into a receptacle positioned adjacent oneof its ends.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBEI 1 5 I974 SIEEI 5 0f 5 FEG.6

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC COLLECTION OF COINS IN COIN-OPERATED PARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally tocoin-operated apparatus such as rental locker system of a type having anumber of coin-operated lockers or compartments in vertical andhorizontal arrangement. More specifically, the invention relates to adevice for automatically collecting the coins inserted into the slots ofthe coinoperated apparatus.

Heretofore, in a rental locker system of this type, the coins insertedinto the slots provided for the respective lockers have been storedseparately in receptacles mounted therein. With the advent of rentallocker systems comprising a large number of lockers, however, the manualrecovery of the coins contained in each of the lockers has become alabor that involves a considerable expenditure of time and energy. Ifthis process of coin recovery could be simplified by automation, thelabor or expenses of those in charge of such rental locker systems orsimilar coin-operated apparatus would be greatly curtailed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a device of novel, simplified and inexpensive construction forautomatically collecting the coins inserted into the slots of apparatussuch as a rental locker system having a number of coin-operated unitsarranged in a plurality of vertical columns and at least one horizontalrow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterreferred to, in which conveyor means are provided in a hollow basestructure at the bottom of the coin-operated apparatus to carry thecoins dropped thereon through the slots into a single receptaclepositioned at one end thereof. Since the conveyor means can easily bemade to operate intermittently by a timer mechanism, all of the coinsinserted into the slots during each predetermined length of time can becollected automatically in this receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter referred to, which can be manufactured inexpensively in asubstantially standardized manner irrespective of the number ofcoin-operated units in.each horizontal row of the apparatus to bemounted thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter referred to, in which provision is made for counting thenumber of coins being collected automatically in the receptacle.

According to the present invention, briefly summarized, there isprovided a device for automatic collection of the coins inserted intoslots formed respectively in a number of coin-operated units arranged ina plurality of vertical columns and at least one horizontal row, thesaid device comprising a plurality of chutes extending respectivelyalong the vertical columns of the coinoperated units for directing thecoins downwardly therethrough, a hollow base structure on which thecoinoperated units of the above described arrangement are mounted,conveyor means extending horizontally within the hollow base structurefor carrying the coins dropped thereon through the chutes toward one andthereof, end a receptacle adjacent the said one end of the conveyormeans for collecting therein the coins carried by the conveyor means.

The novel features which are considered as being characteristic of thisinvention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself,however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will bebest understood from the following detailed description read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partly broken away perspective view of an example of thedevice of this invention as adapted for automatic coin collection in arental locker system;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in phantom view, of the exampledevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic front elevation explanatory of another preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partly broken away, exploded perspective view of stillanother preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is also a partly broken away, exploded perspective view showingthe essential parts of the example shown in; and

FIG. 6 is a partly broken away, fragmentary perspective view of afurther preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A first preferred embodiment of this invention willnow be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring first toFIG. 1 in particular, the rental locker system generally indicated bynumeral 1 comprises a number of compartments or lockers in vertical andhorizontal arrangement. Doors 2 provided for respective lockers can eachbe locked by a lock mechanism 5, FIG. 2, when a coin is inserted into aslot 4, and can be unlocked by a key 3 which is released upon insertionof the coin into the slot. The coin thus inserted into each slot 4 istemporarily stored in the corresponding lock mechanism 5 and, at thetime of unlocking or upon lapse of a predetermined length of time, isdropped into the corresponding one of chutes 6, FIG. 2, extendingvertically along the respective vertical columns of the lockers withinthe rental locker system 1. Alternatively, the coins may be made to dropimmediately into the chutes 6 upon locking of the doors.

This rental locker system I is mounted on a hollow base structure 7 ofrectangular shape having an open upper end. An electric motor 9 ismounted on a mount 8 adjacent one end of the base structure 7. Anendless belt 14 is passed around a pulley ll fixedly mounted on anoutput shaft 10 of the motor 9 and another pulley l3 fixedly attached toone end of a drive roller 12 rotatably supported adjacent the same endof the base structure 7, in order to impart the rotation of the motoroutput shaft 10 to the drive roller 12. A plurality, two in thisembodiment of the invention, of guide rollers 15 are rotatably supportedby members 17 at each end of the base structure.

An endless conveyor belt 18 stretched around these drive roller andguide rollers has a number of perforations 19 formed at predeterminedspacings along both edges thereof to receive pins 20 formedcorrespondingly on the drive roller 12, so that the conveyor belt moveswith the rotation of the drive roller as guided by the guide rollers 15.The upper stretch or span of this conveyor belt is positionedimmediately below the lower ends of the aforesaid chutes 6. Achannel-shaped guide 22 on a plurality of spaced apart supports 21 (onlyone of these supports is shown in FIG. 1) extends along the lowersurface of the upper stretch of the conveyor belt 18 to keep the samesubstantially U-shaped in cross section and thus to prevent coins 23from falling off the lateral edges of the conveyor belt duringtransportation thereof hereinafter described.

As seen in FIG. 2, a guide cylinder 24 is provided at the lower end ofeach of the chutes 6 so that the coins may drop unfailingly on theU-shaped upper stretch of the conveyor belt 18. The coins thustransported by the conveyor belt is collected in a receptacle 25, FIG.1, in the form of a drawer which can be locked and unlocked in theillustrated position in the conventional way.

Although not shown in the drawings, it is assumed that a timer mechanismis provided to operate the electric motor 9 at a time interval of, say,every 6 hours so that the coins dropped onto the conveyor belt 38 duringthat time interval may be collected in the receptacle 25 in one batch.This timer mechanism may be of such type, for example, that a pin isadjustably mounted on a dial which makes one complete revolution inevery 24 hours, the pin being adapted to operate a switch con nected inthe circuit supplying electrical energy to the motor 9. The length oftime the motor is thus operated each time is regulatable by adjustingthe surface of the pin which makes contact with the switch actuator orby adjusting the surface of the switch actuator which makes contact withthe pin. Alternatively, a manual switch may be provided in parallelconnection with the time switch to operate the conveyor belt 18 asdesired.

In the operation of the instant example device, proceeding to thedescription of operation of the coins inserted into the slots 4 by theusers to make use of the lockers are dropped onto the conveyor belt 18through the lock mechanisms and the chutes 6. As this conveyor belt ismoved by the motor 9 at predetermined time intervals as aforesaid, thecoins 23 are collected in the receptacle 25 at one end of the basestructure 7. A person in charge of this locker system 1 will then unlockthe receptacle 25 to draw the same out of the base structure and toremove the coins contained therein.

FIG. 3 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the invention, inwhich a conveyor belt 18 in the form of a long strip of steel plate iswound on a supply roller 26 fixedly mounted on a revolvable shaft 28 andenergized by suitable means in the rewinding direction thereof, which isclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3. The conveyor belt 18 extends over guiderollers to be wound, at the other end thereof, on a drive or take-uproller 27 fixedly mounted on an output shaft 10 of an electric motor 9.An endless belt 29 is stretched crosswise between the take-up roller 27and the supply roller 26 in order to impart the rotation of the motoroutput shaft 10 to the supply roller 26.

A switch actuating member 30 is fixed in such a position on the conveyorbelt 18 that when the belt has been moved to such an extent that thecoins 23 thereon are all dropped into a receptacle in the form of adrawer. the switch actuating member operates a suitably supported switch31 connected in the circuit supplying electrical energy to the motor 9.A stop 32 is provided at one end of the upper stretch of the conveyorbelt 18 opposite to the receptacle 25 in order to prevent the coins fromfalling off the said one end of the upper belt stretch during therewinding operation of the conveyor belt, as hereinafter described inmore detail.

In this second embodiment of the invention constructed substantially ashereinbefore described, the supply roller 26 is rotatedcounterclockwise, as seen in FIG. 3, against a force tending to turn thesame in the opposite direction when the electric motor 9 is operated towind the conveyor belt 18 on the take-up roller 27. As the conveyor beltis thus moved over the guide rollers 15, the coins 23 dropped onto itsupper stretch through the chutes 6, FIG. 2, are collected in thereceptacle 25 as above stated. When all of the coins on the upper beltstretch been dropped into the receptacle, the switch actuating member 30operates the switch 31 to stop the operation of the motor 9. Thereuponthe conveyor belt is automatically rewound on the supply roller 26 dueto the aforesaid force tending to turn the same clockwise as seen inFIG. 3. Although the coins dropped onto the upper stretch of theconveyor belt during this rewinding operation hereof are carried in thedirection opposite to the receptacle 25, they are prevented from fallingoff the belt by the stop 32 and are collected in the receptacle 25 whenthe conveyor belt is moved the next time in the winding directionthereof.

The rewinding of the conveyor belt in this second embodiment of theinvention may be effected by utilizing the elasticity of the beltitself, or by reversing the direction of revolution of the motor outputshaft 10. Further, if the total length of the conveyor belt 18 issuitably increased, the belt can be driven in the winding orcoin-collecting direction several times before being driven in theopposite or rewinding direction.

In a third preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5, which may be considered as a modification of the example devicesshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the length of the base structure 7 is madevariable to adjust for locker systems having a various number ofcompartments or lockers in each horizontal row. Referring generally toboth of these drawings, the base structure 7 is divided into threesections consisting of a first outer section 33, an intermediate section34 and a second outer section 35. The upper edges of these sections areall bent inwardly at 33a, 33b, 34a, 35a and 35b to provide flangesurfaces on which the locker system I is mounted. Further, as best shownin FIG. 5, these sections are fixedly provided with side flanged edges36 thereby to be horizontally joined together in a suitable manner, asby rivetting.

The intermediate section 34 of the base structure has a plurality ofmembers 37 projecting inwardly from its upper edge 34a, each of themembers having a hole 37a into which a bolt 38 is to be inserted througha hole 39 formed correspondingly through the bottom of the lockersystem 1. The locker system thus mounted on the base structure 7 and awooden framework 40 on its back may then be securely interconnected by apair of plate members 41 attached to the side surfaces of the lockersystem and the first and second outer sections 33 and 35, respectively,by screws 42.

An electric motor, not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is positioned on a mount8 to impart rotation to a drive roller 12 in the first outer section 33in a manner substantially as previously set forth in connection withFIG. 1. Extending between this drive roller 12 and a guide roller 15 inthe second outer section 35 is a conveyor belt 18 formed by sewingtogether both ends of a strip of suitable material to adjust for thedistance between the drive roller and the guide roller. A channel-shapedguide 22 having a length adjusted by a junction piece 43 in accordancewith the aforesaid distance between the drive and guide rollers ismounted on a plurality of spaced apart supports 21 secured to the bottomof the intermediate section 34 of the base structure. Additionalsupports 44 may be provided adjacent the first mentioned supports 21 toprevent lateral displacement of the conveyor belt 18 on thechannel-shaped guide 22. Other details of construction and operation aresubstantially as above described with reference to F168. 1 and 2.

in this manner, locker systems having a various number of lockers ineach horizontal row can be mounted on the base structure 7 only if thelength of its intermediate section 34 and of the conveyor belt 18 andthe guide 22 is adjusted according to the lengths of the repsectivelocker systems. The intermedaite section may be manufactured in variouslengths to make possible the ready assemblage of base structures havingcorrespondingly varied lengths.

H6. 6 illustrates a further preferred embodiment of the invention inwhich means are provided for counting the coins as they are conveyedsuccessively to the receptacle 25. The base structure 7 in thisembodiment is fixedly provided with a brush 45 for setting apart anycoins lying in a superposed manner on a conveyor belt l8 which extendsbetween a drive roller 12 and one or more guide rollers, not shown,mounted adjacent the other end of the base structure and which is keptsubstantially U-shaped by the guide 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. On thatside of the brush 45 which is closer to the receptacle 25, a pair ofsubstantially L-shaped members as are supported by the base structure toform coin-aligning means in combination with the brush 45. The L-shapedmembers have edges 46a and 46b, respectively, in slidable contact withthe upper surface of the upper stretch of the conveyor belt 18. Asillustrated, these edges 46a and dob of the members 46 project from bothsides of the belt toward its center with such relative angles that thecoins 23 passing therealong are neatly aligned as they leave the edge46b.

Under the upper stretch of the conveyor belt 18 there is provided aproximity switch 47 to detect the successive passage thereon of thecoins aligned as above described by the brush 45 and the edges 46a and46b and to correspondingly operate an electromagnetic counter 48 in aknown manner, the electromagnetic counter being mounted at the bottom ofthe base structure 7. It is thus possible to automatically count andduly register the number of coins collected in the receptacle each timethe conveyor belt 18 is moved by the timer mechanism described inrelation with the first preferred embodiment of the invention. Otherdetails of construction and operation are substantially as set forthwith reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

We claim:

1. A coin collecting apparatus for use in rental lockers, automaticvending machines, and the like which have a plurality of coin-operatedunits disposed in a plurality of rows and columns, said apparatuscomprising in combination with said coin-operated units:

a hollow base structure for mounting said plurality of coin-operatedunits;

a plurality of members for fixing said coin-operated units onto saidbase structure;

a plurality of chutes extending vertically along the respective columnsof said coin-operated units for directing the coins downwardlytherethrough;

coin conveyor means extending horizontally within said hollow basestructure for carrying the coins discharged thereon through said chutestoward one end thereof;

driving means for driving said conveyor means;

drive-control means for controlling the starting and stopping of saiddrive means, said drive-control means including a timer means forcontrolling the automatic operation of said driving means atpredetermined time intervals; and

a coin receptacle disposed adjacent said one end of said conveyor meansfor collecting therein the coins carried by said conveyor means.

2. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprisinga lock and a key which allow removal of coins collected in said coinreceptacle by particular individuals.

3. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprisingmeans for protecting the coins from jumping out of said coin conveyormeans.

4. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which saidconveyor means comprises a drive roller, means for imparting rotation tosaid drive roller, a plurality of guide rollers, and a conveyor beltdisposed around said drive roller and said guide rollers.

5. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, including achannel-shaped guide extending under the upper stretch of said conveyorbelt to keep the same substantially U-shaped in cross section and thusto prevent the coins from falling off the lateral edges of said conveyorbelt.

6. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which saidconveyor belt has a number of perforations along both later edgesthereof to receive a plurality of pins formed correspondingly along bothlateral edges of said drive roller.

7. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which saidconveyor means comprises a supply roller, a take-up roller, a pluralityof guide rollers, a conveyor belt extending from said supply roller tosaid take-up roller over and around said guide rollers, and means forintermittently imparting rotation to said take-up roller to move saidconveyor belt over said guide rollers by winding the same on saidtake-up roller, said supply roller being kept energized in a directionsuch as to cause said conveyor belt to be rewound thereon.

8. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprisingswitch means capable of preventing said means from imparting rotation tosaid take-up roller when actuated, and a switch-actuating member mountedin such a position on said conveyor belt as to move into contact withsaid switch means to actuate the same when said conveyor belt has beenmoved a predetermined distance from said supply roller to said take-uproller to collect the coins dropped thereon in said receptacle.

9. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprisinga stop for preventing the coins from falling off said conveyor beltduring the rewinding operation thereof.

a a: a a

1. A coin collecting apparatus for use in rental lockers, automaticvending machines, and the like which have a plurality of coin-operatedunits disposed in a plurality of rows and columns, said apparatuscomprising in combination with said coinoperated units: a hollow basestructure for mounting said plurality of coinoperated units; a pluralityof members for fixing said coin-operated units onto said base structure;a plurality of chutes extending vertically along the respective columnsof said coin-operated units for directing the coins downwardlytherethrough; coin conveyor means extending horizontally within saidhollow base structure for carrying the coins discharged thereon throughsaid chutes toward one end thereof; driving means for driving saidconveyor means; drive-control means for controlling the starting andstopping of said drive means, said drive-control means including a timermeans for controlling the automatic operation of said driving means atpredetermined time intervals; and a coin receptacle disposed adjacentsaid one end of said conveyor means for collecting therein the coinscarried by said conveyor means.
 2. A coin collecting apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a lock and a key which allowremoval of coins collected in said coin receptacle by particularindividuals.
 3. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1,further comprising means for protecting the coins from jumping out ofsaid coin conveyor means.
 4. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, in which said conveyor means comprises a drive roller, meansfor imparting rotation to said drive roller, a plurality of guiderollers, and a conveyor belt disposed around said drive roller and saidguide rollers.
 5. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4,including a channel-shaped guide extending under the upper stretch ofsaid conveyor belt tO keep the same substantially U-shaped in crosssection and thus to prevent the coins from falling off the lateral edgesof said conveyor belt.
 6. A coin collecting apparatus as claimed inclaim 4, in which said conveyor belt has a number of perforations alongboth later edges thereof to receive a plurality of pins formedcorrespondingly along both lateral edges of said drive roller.
 7. A coincollecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said conveyor meanscomprises a supply roller, a take-up roller, a plurality of guiderollers, a conveyor belt extending from said supply roller to saidtake-up roller over and around said guide rollers, and means forintermittently imparting rotation to said take-up roller to move saidconveyor belt over said guide rollers by winding the same on saidtake-up roller, said supply roller being kept energized in a directionsuch as to cause said conveyor belt to be rewound thereon.
 8. A coincollecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising switchmeans capable of preventing said means from imparting rotation to saidtake-up roller when actuated, and a switch-actuating member mounted insuch a position on said conveyor belt as to move into contact with saidswitch means to actuate the same when said conveyor belt has been moveda predetermined distance from said supply roller to said take-up rollerto collect the coins dropped thereon in said receptacle.
 9. A coincollecting apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a stopfor preventing the coins from falling off said conveyor belt during therewinding operation thereof.